Family Of Jersey City Man Killed By Police Disputes Account

JERSEY CITY, NJ — After a man was shot dead by Jersey City police in the early hours of Tuesday, the man's family is questioning the city’s account, claiming he was shot in his back.

But Jersey City public safety officials said Wednesday that online rumors about the shooting are incorrect, and have resulted in "unacceptable threats" to the police.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop had said Tuesday morning that the police Street Crimes Unit saw a man “acting suspiciously and noticed a bulge in his clothing consistent with a possible firearm” near Ege and Bergen avenues around 1 a.m.

When police approached, the man opened fire, Fulop said. An officer shot back, striking the man, who was pronounced dead less than an hour later at Jersey City Medical Center.

The investigation has been turned over to the Attorney General’s Office, which investigates all police shootings.

The Attorney General's Office issued a statement at 7 p.m. on Tuesday saying, "One adult male civilian sustained fatal injuries. His identity and the identity of the involved officer are not being released at this time.

"According to the preliminary investigation, officers assigned to the Jersey City Police Department's Street Crimes Unit encountered the decedent in the area of Bergen and Virginia avenues shortly after 1 a.m.. Gunfire was exchanged and a civilian was struck. A gun was recovered at the scene."

New Information

On Wednesday, a member of the man's family told news outlets that he may not have had a firearm.

"They don't know what that bulge is," Darshell Robinson, the man's grandmother, told News 12, saying it could have been food or cigarettes.

She also said he was shot in the back.

But Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea reiterated Wednesday that the man had shot at police.

He sent Patch this statement on Wednesday afternoon: "Our Street Crimes Unit is among the most experienced and disciplined in the state, and they routinely de-escalate situations without force. On Tuesday, they faced an immediate threat to their lives. While it is always tragic when a life is lost, the facts will make clear that our officers responded lawfully, responsibly, and professionally to protect themselves and the community."

He urged the Attorney General’s Office to release the body camera footage as soon as possible to "dispel the false rumors circulating online."

A city spokesperon said, "The spread of misinformation has already led to unacceptable threats against officers and their families."

PRIOR REPORTING: Man Dies In Shootout With Police In Jersey City